Story: Raffaela Bissoni | Emilia-Romagna

From the road that leads from the medieval town of Bertinoro to the village of Casticciano through the most beautiful hills of Romagna, you catch a glimpse of a cottage surrounded by tidy vineyards and lush woods: this is the Bissoni winery, founded by Raffaella in 1988. From there, the view reaches a sharp, blue line on the horizon: the Adriatic Sea, which brings its beneficial breezes contributing to the climatic conditions of a unique terroir.

Bissoni Winery covers 12 hectares, 6 of which are vineyards, at about 200 meters above sea level. Two grape varieties are grown in the Bissoni winery's vineyards: Sangiovese and Albana, the best and most typical expressions of viticulture in the area. Here, in the heart of Romagna, wine has been produced since the times of the ancient Romans, as the legend of Galla Placidia testifies: the daughter of Emperor Theodosius, passing through Bertinoro, was served a golden nectar made from Albana grapes, and her exclamation 'Non di così rozzo calice sei degno, o vino, ma di berti in oro' (Not of such a crude goblet are you worthy, O wine, but of drinking you in gold) would give rise to the name of the locality.

Respect for the environment, love for the land, and a maniacal work culture are the values Raffaella is inspired by. Raffaella has chosen to grow only grapes that are historically typical of the Romagna region, and to ensure a virtuous circle of give and take in production: the forest around the winery provides wood for home heating, the ashes from the stove are used to fertilize the land, the rows are not weeded and the grass is cut only three times a year, to let an ecosystem of wild plants, flowers, insects and animals live, which contribute to the complexity of the soil beneath the vineyards. This choice is rewarded by the breadth of aromas and flavor notes found in the wines. Nature always gives back, and with generous interest, what is given to her.

Cantina Bissoni is the world in which Raffaella has chosen to live together with her family, working day after day with great energy and tenacity to bottle what is the essence of her dream: elegant, structured wines, full of finesse and balance, produced with natural methods in a unique terroir, rich in history and culture.

Raffaella's respect for the environment can already be seen in the backyard of Cantina Bissoni, a triumph of wild plants and flowers where it is not uncommon to come across hares and deer running between the rows. Raffaella, in fact, has decided to keep a large area of her land cultivated as forest so as to ensure the overall balance of the ecosystem. Herbicides, insecticides and other invasive methods are not allowed at any stage of cultivation; Raffaella relies solely on integrated pest management and the practices allowed under the organic production regime. - Gerardo [TS11/23]